friday lunchtime lecture: the open government partnership: how far have we come?

The Open Government Partnership: How Far Have We Come?

Ben WorthyOGP IRM

Open Government Partnership

UK Second National Action Plan 2013-2015• Examined commitments

made in second NAP• Created in co-operation with

civil society groups• UK government updates and

self-assessment• Series of interviews and

desk research• Looking at implementation

not impact or effect

What Went Well: Eye Catching Policy?

• Beneficial Ownership-public register of who owns what company or exercises a controlling interest (PSC)• Extractives Transparency [EITI]-opening up of details

and payments on oil and gas e.g. payments and licenses•Aid Transparency-data on who is giving what including

a development tracker•Anti-Corruption Strategy – cross government anti-

corruption policy

What Went Well: Local Data

What Went Well: Backroom Work

•Building Blocks e.g. TNA working turning UK legislation into open data, work on digital records and DRI• Infrastructure e.g. the National Information

Infrastructure-creating an iterative framework for publishing datasets.

What Went Not so Well: opening up policy making•Very strong interest in

this area• Fewer cases than

wanted-meant to do 5 but only 3 with one more added•Blocked by resources and

‘politics’

What Went Not so Well: Accountability and Participation• Less progress on general OGP

aim of participation or accountability• Attempts to encourage were

interesting but difficult• Need to link data to tools • Age of open data and

technology requires greater engagement

What’s Missing?

• Lobbying and Surveillance•UK

Open Government network forum generated a number of new ideas e.g. private companies working for public bodies•What about Freedom of

Information?

Who’s Missing?

Need to broaden out to include • Scotland•Wales•Northern Ireland• Local government

What’s It All About?

• Need for evidence on impact• How do they fit together? •What is the ‘visions’ of state

and society, politics and government underneath it e.g. for 20 years down the line? •Who benefits or loses?

Thank You

OGP Links• See the full report here• Open Government Civil Society

Network http://www.opengovernment.org.uk/ • OGP UK http://

www.opengovpartnership.org/country/united-kingdom • Email b.worthy@bbk.ac.uk